Japan’s effort “overwhelmingly benefits the purchase of domestic vehicles over imported ones by making the vast majority of imports ineligible for the program’s significant tax-cut benefit,” the U.S. auto companies wrote in a letter yesterday to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.

Japan announced a 7.2 trillion yen ($81 billion) economic stimulus package last week that includes an extension of a program giving consumers incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars. No U.S. vehicles are eligible for the tax incentive offered under the plan, while 87 percent of Japanese-made vehicles qualify, the automakers said in their letter.

The Obama administration has raised the issue with Japan, and believes “changes are necessary to give U.S. vehicles greater opportunity to qualify under Japan’s program,” Carol Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, said in an e-mail.

The program encourages the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles, and both domestic and foreign brands can qualify under the same standards, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a fact sheet in September.

A message seeking comment from the media office of the Japanese Embassy in Washington wasn’t returned.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087…

Under the U.S. cash for clunkers program that ended Aug. 24, consumers were offered discounts of as much as $4,500 to trade in older vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models. The Transportation Department has distributed $2.85 billion under the initiative.

Japanese brands accounted for almost half of the sales under the U.S. cash for clunkers plan, the automakers said.

As far as I can see its a far bigger picture than the American people can wrap their minds around.

I guess the mentality is “f*** it, unemployment is already over 10% lets just keep killing American companies, YEAH! then we can be remembered as the generation with the highest unemployment rates ever!”

Its not about where your window switch is made or where the headlights come from or who killed the cow that made the leather.

EVERY other nation in the world tries to preserve their own economy. Except for this one. Then we are all baffled by the fact that we are $12 trillion in debt and staring down the barrel of a worthless dollar. We get to be the “bigger” country I guess, what a stupid thing to be proud of.

Japan’s effort “overwhelmingly benefits the purchase of domestic vehicles over imported ones by making the vast majority of imports ineligible for the program’s significant tax-cut benefit,” the U.S. auto companies wrote in a letter yesterday to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office.

Japan announced a 7.2 trillion yen ($81 billion) economic stimulus package last week that includes an extension of a program giving consumers incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars. No U.S. vehicles are eligible for the tax incentive offered under the plan, while 87 percent of Japanese-made vehicles qualify, the automakers said in their letter.

The Obama administration has raised the issue with Japan, and believes “changes are necessary to give U.S. vehicles greater opportunity to qualify under Japan’s program,” Carol Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, said in an e-mail.

The program encourages the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles, and both domestic and foreign brands can qualify under the same standards, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said in a fact sheet in September.

A message seeking comment from the media office of the Japanese Embassy in Washington wasn’t returned.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087…

Under the U.S. cash for clunkers program that ended Aug. 24, consumers were offered discounts of as much as $4,500 to trade in older vehicles for new, more fuel-efficient models. The Transportation Department has distributed $2.85 billion under the initiative.

Japanese brands accounted for almost half of the sales under the U.S. cash for clunkers plan, the automakers said.

As far as I can see its a far bigger picture than the American people can wrap their minds around.

I guess the mentality is “f*** it, unemployment is already over 10% lets just keep killing American companies, YEAH! then we can be remembered as the generation with the highest unemployment rates ever!”

Its not about where your window switch is made or where the headlights come from or who killed the cow that made the leather.

EVERY other nation in the world tries to preserve their own economy. Except for this one. Then we are all baffled by the fact that we are $12 trillion in debt and staring down the barrel of a worthless dollar. We get to be the “bigger” country I guess, what a stupid thing to be proud of.

Based on what just said your opinion is bunk

lol

Any of these would be better than a Chinese-built Chrysler, a Canadian-built Chevy or an Mexican-built Ford. Let's put America to work!! Buy American, buy Toyota!

Additionally, I am put off by the size of the UAW's ownership stake in Chrysler – 55%. As the single largest shareholder, Chrysler can only be viewed as the auto industry's version of the fox watching the hen house. I am even more curious to know what Fiat is thinking with the UAW having a controlling interest. If I was Bob Nardelli I would be happy to walk away from this train wreck waiting to happen.

With regard to GM, the UAW will have a larger than reasonable stake in the company and more control than current GM management will be able to handle. With the government controlling product decisions, will GM be making vehicles that only Greens will love?

Bottom line is that GM & Chrysler have only made their situations worse and have handed what dwindling market share they had left to anyone other than them.

BTW, good luck to either company getting any non – governmental financing after what both companies did to their bond holders.

As a business owner that buys autos for my salesmen, VP, and others there will no longer be any domestics in my fleet through-out the natural life of my business.

From now on, I will be considering Mercedes, Toyota, and dare I say Hyundai before a domestic brand.